The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-02
To the Christian Public,

Thoughtful men are convinced that the
closing years of the 10Th century constitute
momentous crisis in the history of the nation.
There is march of events which will not
tarry. The necessity of planting Christian
institutions in the formative west, and OF
STRENGTHENING them in the older states, the
duty Of overtaking the rapid growth Of our
cities with adequate church provision, the
importance of closing the widening chasm
between the church and the multitude, and
of bringing the regenerative power Of the
Gospel to bear upon every character and life,
demand the instant attention Of the Christian
church and the full exercise Of all its ener-
gies
Popular education has multiplied wants
and created tastes which wealth has not been
sufficiently distributed to crafty: hence
growing discomfort among worklngmen,
which in prosperous times is an i'll omen, sug-
costing grave questions concerning the next
financial panic and the consequent industrial
depression. The conflict with the saloon
drawing to a crisis, and the manifest deter
mination of the liquor power to accomplish
its ends by fraud, corruption, or violence;
widespread spirit OF lawlessness; the apathy
of tho popular conscience; the alienation of
tho masses from the churches, and increasing
immigration--all these point to growing COM
plications in the near future.
Under monarchial governments, men have
thought that if power could be popularized
the ills of life would mostly disappear In
this country, until recently, by reason of
abundant public lands, sparse and sub
stantially homogeneous population and an
almost limitleSs demand for labor, We have
been exempt from many of the evils suffered
by European peoples. But we are now be-
ginning to approximate European conditions
Of society. The existence Of great cities,
severe competition, an unemployed class,
+h1
casion and evidence of widespread discon-
tent, for which the ballot affords no remedy.
Has not the time como for us to make dem
onstration of the truth that the Gospel can
do what popular suffrage cannot do? Is not
this the nation, and is not this the generation
providentially called to make such applica-
tion of the Gospel to the life Of the people as
has never yet been made! Will otsthose
who have enjoyed government of the people
by the people, and for the people" be the first
to learn that the essential evils of society are
tho Gospel, therefore, must furnish the solu-
tion of the great social problem?
The Christian Church has not yet fully
recognized its relations to the entire life Of
the community and the nation. Even
Christian men, preoccupied with private con-
Germs and overburdened by the demands on
their time, are prone to neglect the public
welfare, and are loath to accept any respon-
sbility for existing evils.
Denominations and local churches, each in
tent on it's own good work, have fallen into
q harmful competition instead Of engaging
in an intelligent and comprehensive co-opera-
tion.
Our marvellous material growth and the
progress Of invention have produced new
conditions to which business has been quick
to adapt its methods Do not important
changes in population and in the
habits and temper of the people require
some changes in tho methods Of Christian
work?
The undersigned, therefore, unite in calling
O General Conference of all Evangelical
Christians in the United States, to be held
under the auspices and direction of the
Evangelical Alliance for the United States,
in the city of Washington, December the 7th,
Sth, and 9th, 1887, to study III effect the fol-
lowing questions:
1st. What are tho present perils and op-
portunities of the Christian Church and OF the
country!
End. Can any Of them be met best by a
hearty cooperation of all Evangelical Chris
tians, which, without detriment to any
denominational interests, will serve the
welfare Of the whole church?
3D. What are the best means to secure
such cooperation, and to waken the whole
church to its responsibility?
Signed by William +. Dodge, president,
and Rev. Josiah Strong, general secretary Of
the u. S. Evangelical Alliance and nearly
100 of the leading clergy of the country, of
all denominations.
Il